[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 30 (Wednesday, February 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 6784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-3508]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[Finance Docket No. 34079]


San Jacinto Rail Limited--Construction Exemption--and The 
Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company--Operation Exemption--
Build-Out to the Bayport Loop Near Houston, Harris County, TX

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.

ACTION: Thirty day extension on comment period of the scope of the 
Environmental Impact Statement.

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SUMMARY: Comments on the scope of the Environmental Impact Statement 
(EIS) to be prepared by the Surface Transportation Board's Section of 
Environmental Analysis (SEA) in this proceeding were due on February 1, 
2002. In response to written requests for an extension of the comment 
period, SEA is advising all interested persons that the comment period 
will be extended for a period of 30 days. Comments are now due on March 
14, 2002.
    SEA believes the extension is appropriate to provide the public 
sufficient opportunity to raise issues pertinent to scoping. 
Specifically, comments stated that an extension of the comment period 
is needed for potentially affected community members to explore 
alternatives to the proposed route. SEA recognizes that the examination 
of alternatives is a central consideration of the EIS, and the 
identification of alternatives is an important part of the scoping 
process. Thus, a 30-day extension of the comment period furthers the 
goals of the EIS process without introducing needless delay into the 
agency's environmental review.
    SEA strongly encourages that comments be submitted in writing. 
However, for parties in circumstances where submission of written 
comments may be impractical, parties may also submit oral comments to 
the toll-free number for this project at 1-888-229-7857. Persons 
submitting oral comments are invited to make their comments in Spanish, 
as well as English.

DATES: The time for filing comments on the scope of the EIS has been 
extended to March 14, 2002.

FILING ENVIRONMENTAL COMMENTS: Interested persons and agencies are 
invited to participate in the EIS scoping process. A signed original 
and 10 copies of comments should be submitted to: Office of the 
Secretary, Case Control Unit, STB Finance Docket No. 34079, Surface 
Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, NW, Washington, DC 20423-0001.
    To ensure proper handling of your comments, you must mark your 
submission: Attention: Dana White, Section of Environmental Analysis, 
Environmental Filing.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Dana White, Section of 
Environmental Analysis, Surface Transportation Board, 1925 K Street, 
NW, Washington, DC 20423-0001, or SEA's toll-free number for this 
project at 1-888-229-7857 (TDD for the hearing impaired 1-800-877-
8339). The website for the Surface Transportation Board is 
www.stb.dot.gov.

    By the Board, Victoria Rutson, Chief, Section of Environmental 
Analysis.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-3508 Filed 2-12-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P